I promise I don’t look in! It’s more about trying to avoid anything painful. I never want to look where you don’t want me to! But I know you’ve got a big week ahead! Everyone is rooting for you. Everyone is behind you. You’re so good at what you do. You’re a natural. You’re a star. If anyone were to doubt it, I’d use the phrase, “If not her, *who?*” I’ve used it myself a couple of times when asking myself when moments felt hopeless, “Why is it you love her so much?” Then when imagining anyone else who might fill the space, it only makes what’s obvious even more abundantly clear. *Nobody* can fill your shoes. You’re so spectacular. I feel whole when I think of you. I know I should feel that way, anyway. But, hey, we could all use a bit of help, right? So if you get me there, what’s the harm in that. You let me feel special about myself. It’s like I was made to honor you. I know that sounds silly, but it feels that way to me. But in doing so, I feel bigger than the moon! There’s nothing else I could wish for that would ever bring on this sunshine for me. You’re magical. You’re sublime. You’re every memory in my life when I felt my heart race, but I didn’t know for what it was. Just that there’s *something* out there beyond what I saw. When I was writing a short story that I’d never try to publish in 1992. Sitting at the public library in my old hometown. And even though I had no direction in my life, I remember little moments like that day. When this feeling came over, that connected me to today. Seeing you felt like God revealing herself in your form, and saying, “Remember all those little moments in your life when you had this little feeling come over? When nothing really out of the ordinary was going on? I know you remember them – I made it that way – even though it felt like there was no reason.” Those moments were like a feather blowing gently across time and space. Saying it will all make sense someday. You’ve already lived it. You’ll live it again. Where you are is just where the needle happens to be playing on the record, but you’re the whole vinyl disc. The full circle. Your soul knows everything. And all those little moments in my life when I felt that hopeful feeling all coalesced. When I saw you. Not that I’d ever be with you! But this feeling of, “Oh! This is how it all connects.” I feel like my needle is playing in the right groove. Because seeing you was the bursting of the seed for me. Into something new. Into this reminder – oh, now I feel so guilty! – I have a thousand lily roots dying in the backyard that need to be planted! See? I’m not good at this stuff like you are. Your loving hands bring things to life. Mine are just meant for typing. Oh, to hold your hand. I wish mine were eight times bigger! So you really felt them wrap around you. But I’m afraid they’re pretty normal and gentle. But that feeling of your palm against mine. That’s where the dream kinda begins and ends. I can imagine how that would feel. Kind of glancing down and lost in the shape of your fingernail, too shy to look up at you. You’re someone so admired. You are beauty and you’re blissful. You tear down the walls, and help me to find the right things to say. Anything that might help you today. You’re carnivals and cotton candy. That sweetest smell of sugar in the air. You’re rainbows and pony rides, and a long day spent at the fair. That goes by in an instant. And yet is stays forever. Your beauty is never lost on me. You’re where i find myself, time and time again. You’re a revelation! You’re a celebration. You’re the most beautiful girl in the world. And time will go by, and things will grow older, but the memory inside – this one of you – is where I find eternal life. Your beauty is God given. With a look and a nod, you’re my salvation. How could there be anyone more beautiful than you? “If not her, *who?*” The answer is you, over and over again. You outdo yourself. In a million different dresses and blouses. It’s such a thrill to say, “Which one will it be today?” Something I’ve seen before, or something new. It doesn’t matter. Everything is about the beauty of you. You’re always touching on a cloud. You’re always feeling that abounds. You’re that sweetest smell in the air, and I look around, and there’s no cotton candy to be found. You’re the bigger definition. Your life and your mission. You’re like the sun in all its lemon rolly-bally splendidness popping up one morning, and asking, “Do you think anyone will notice me?” I’m guessing the answer is, YES!! Oh, certainly!! It was so dark before you. You’re trampolines! And happy scenes!! I know you’ll be so wonderful. You perform to the people who love you. And what’s wrong with that? Everybody loves you so much. Some people get the message later. It would be like a ‘trending story’ on something Scrooge said when he was younger, before he had that great epiphany and changed his ways forever. That wouldn’t seem fair at all, but things happen like that, every day. A storm of meanness. You removed me from all that. My mind is free, and if I’m in a bubble so be it! It’s all champagne bubbles with you! Even though I don’t drink! It would give me something to do with all the cases I never got to! To fill your bath with them. A close-up of your face. You! In that cream dress, and wearing your hoop earrings. Drawn in close, oh, even DaVinci could have never imagined anyone so staggering. I’m lost in you. Like I was yesterday, and the day before. And as I’m sure to be tomorrow. You touch my heart. It’s not a figure of speech. It’s the realest thing in the room happening around me. I wish you could see what I see. I wish I could post it with this letter. It’s actually overwhelming to look at you. To take you all in! You’re something so much bigger than I ever could have imagined. I have never – ever – seen such beauty before. Your eyes – oh, what’s left to be said!! None of it gets to the heart of what it is. You are beyond human language. Maybe you send me a little note, and you say, “Send me that freeze frame you’re talking about.” And I do! And you smile. And something in you says, “I think I see what he sees after all.” It’s sweet. For me, it’s splendor. You’re the most beautiful woman in the world. I’ll always look this way, to you. You were something only hinted at in the breeze, standing outside a library in 1992, and dreaming of my future. It was you then. It’s you now. It will always be you, forever. ❤️  

I know you’ll be wonderful. Happy new week. ☀️